Funding for Science Equipment Announced; Equipment Lists & AAC Guidelines Published

The Department of Education have announced a €12 million fund for schools to help implement the new Senior Cycle Science specifications. Schools will receive a grant of between €13,000 up to a maximum of €22,000 to support the implementation of the Additional Assessment Components (more information on these to follow). Deis schools will receive an additional al 10%. Schools won’t need to apply and the money will be sent to schools shortly. The guidelines for schools can be found here. There is a lack of clarity on how the construction and refurbishment of school laboratories willl be funded and on long-term funding for science consumables associated with the AACs.

Speaking of the AACs, the NCCA have also published guidelines for teachers to support the AACs in the new Senior Cycle Sciences. You can find the documents by clicking on the link shown: Chemistry, Biology, Physics. There is a disappointing lack of detail in these documents on how the investigations will be carried out and especially on how to mitigate against the use of AI. However, the documents do provide guidance on how to reference the use of AI in student reports.

Finally, the DES have also updated the equipment lists for laboratories specified for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agricultural Science, Junior Cycle Science and Resource Areas. This should make planning for the new specifications a little easier.